Steering wheel



Feb. 6, 11923.

. 1,444,294 H. s. WILLIAMS.

STEERING WHEEL.

FILED JAN. 10. 1921.

2 SHEETS'SHEET I Feb. 6, 1923. 11,444,294

H. S. WILLIAMS.

STEERING WHEEL.

FILED JAN. 10, 1921.

2 SHEETS'SHEET 2 Patented 5 HARRY S. W ILLIAMS, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO NOVEL WEI CIATIUN, 013 SAN ANTONIO,

STEERING WHEEL.

Application filed January 10, 1921. Serial lion 36,265).

To all 10/20/11 may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY S. lViLLrAris, a citizen of the United States, residing at tian Antonio, in the county of BeXar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Wheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertsins, to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved steering wheel such as are used upon automobiles, and one object of the invention is to provide a steering wheel which may be tilted from a substantially horizontal posit-ion to a vertical position, the rim portion of the wheel being pivotally mounted across its di ameter for tilting movement in the verticztl direction and the rim being pivoted through connection with certain of the spokes and releasably held in n normal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the wheel with an improved hub and spoke construction. certain of the spokes providing means for pivotall y mounting the rim, one of the spokes being loosely connected with the rim for sliding movement across the rim and another spoke being releasably connected with the rim. and when held in engagement therewith holding the rim against tilting movement.

Another object of the invention. to so construct this wheel that the spokes slidablv andreleasably connected with the rim may extend from the hub at right angles to the spokes pivotally mounting the rim.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this wheel that the spokes pivotally mounting the rim and the spokes rcleasablv connected therewith may be rigid with the hub, the spokes slidebly connected with the hub being positioned opposite the spokes release-lily connected with the rim and pivotally connected with the hub.

Another object of the invention is to provide a steering wheel of the tilting type which will be strong and durable and very simple in construct-ion.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved wheel.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the improved wheel.

Figure 3 is an enlarged. vertical. sectional view taken along the line S 3 of Fig. 1.

Figure is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the wheel in the tilted position.

Figure is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-5 ot Fig. 1.

This improved wheel will be mounted upon theuppcr end portion of the steering post 1 above the casing 2, the upper end portion 01" the steering post 1 passing through the hub 3 of the wheel and the usual securing nut 1 being put in place to hold the wheel upon the steering post. This hub will be prevented from turning upon the post 1 by any conventional means desired. This iub is provided with radiating spokes 5 and 7. the spokes 5 and. the spokes 6 being rigid with the h oh and the spoke 7 having: its inner end portion pivotultv connected with the hub as shown at 8. so that when the rim is tilted from the posi tion shown in F: to that oi Fig. 1-. the spoke 7 may swin vertically with the rim.

The outer end portion of each of th is somewhat enlarged as shown l. f .j. and this enlarged end portion is rormed to provide a socket 11 for receiving the pintle or pin extension 12 which extends from the hearing bracket or casting 13. This bearing bracket 13 connected with the rim by a screw or other similar fastener 14- and it will thus be seen that when as... .mbling the wheel, this assemblage can be easily uccomplished. b v inserting the pintle 12 into the socket 11 and then securing the bracket 13 to the underface of the riin by means of the fastener 14:.

In order to releasebly hold the rim against vertical tilting movement, the rigid spoke 6 which. extends trom one side ot the hub at right angles to the spokes Shae been provided with an en rge d head 15 which is act with be under ve -is head 15 is provided with a passage 16 tl ough which will pass the lug or hook 117 secured to the underfece of the rim by screws or other similar fasteners which pass through the base portion 17 ot the hook 17. A plunger latch 18 is slidably mounted in guiding eyes 19 positioned. bci.

plunger latch and this pull rod extends lon gitudinally oi"- the spoke G and has its inner end portion. connected with the trigger 22 which is positioned adjacent the hub and pivotally mounted so that when it is desired to release the rim, it is simply necessary to grasp the trigger and thaw the same towards the hub or steering post. This movement will draw the plunger latch inwardly out of engagement with the hook extending through the opening 16 and the rim can then be tilted from the position of Fig. to that of Fig. 4. The trig can then be released and when the rim returned to the position of Fig. 3 the hook through engagement with the bevelled end face of the plunger latch will move the latch to permit the hook to assume the position of with the latch engaging the hook. the rim turns upon its pivot, the spoke 7 which is positioned opposite the spoke 6 will swing vertically and in order to prevent binding which would prevent the rim from swinging freely, the outer end portion oi this pivoted spoke '3' has been provided with a slot through which passes the stem 24L This stem 24 is carried by a plate 25 secured to the underface of the rim. and this stem 2 is provided with a head 26 which will be put in place after. the stem has been passed through the slot and will serve to prevent the stem from slipping out of the slot. It will thus be seen that the spoke '7 will be permitted of sliding movement across the rim so that the rim can swing freely but will be prevented from becoming disconnected from the rim. A

J as

tilting wheel has thus been provided which will be simple in construction and very efiicient in operation.

I claim:

1. A steering wheel comprising a rim, a hub opposed spokes extending from and rigid with said hub and having sockets in their outer ends, bearing elements carried by said rim and having pintle extensions fitting into the sockets of said spokes to pivotally mount said rim, a spoke pivoted to said hu) and having a slotted outer end portion a pin. connect-ed with said rim and extending through the slot to limit sliding movement the slotted spoke across said rim, a spoke carried by said hub in opposed relation to the pivoted spoke, and co-operating latching means carriedv by said rim and last mentioned spoke to hold the rim against tilting movement.

2. A steering wheel comprising a rim. hub having rigid spokes connected with said rim to pivotally mount said rim and a pivoted spoke slidably connected with said rim, a spoke rigid with said hub and having its outer end portion slotted, an engaging element carried by said rim for extending through the slotted end of said rigid spoke, and a spring actuated latch carried by said slotted spoke to engage said engaging ele ment and rcleasably hold the rim against tilting.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY S. WILLIAMS. 

